RS FRESHMAN (2007): Gary Bucuren proved to be one of the Panthers most valuable additions for the 2007 season...saw limited action through the latter part of Pitt's schedule due to an injury, but continued to lead most of the team's offensive statistical categories...made 37 starts in 39 appearances...batted a team-high .319 with 44 hits and 29 RBI, including two doubles, three triples and five homeruns, putting him among team-leaders in long-ball shots...batted a team-high .356 with runners on base and a team-high .390 with runners in scoring position, including going 8-10 with runners on third...notched both the second-highest slugging percentage with a .486 mark and on-base percentage with a .387 mark...went 3-4 with two RBI, including first career homerun in an early-season showdown with Belmont on February 24...registered a double and scored two runs as part of a 2-4 performance on April 4 vs. Youngstown State...posted a career-high three RBI while going 2-5 at the plate and scoring two runs in an 11-6 victory over visiting Villanova on April 20...had a career-high three hits in three different contests, the last of which came in a 12-5 win over Cleveland State...hit 3-5 against the Vikings with a homerun, RBI and two runs scored...tallied a career-high three putouts in a 3-2 Panthers' win over Cincinnati on March 25...notched a career-high five assists in a 5-4, extra-innings win over Seton Hall on May 17...tallied 15 multi-hit games and eight multi-RBI games...notched a career-long, six-game hitting streak from March 7 through March 16.

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY: Bucuren joined the Panthers as a transfer from the University of Kentucky...was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 34th round in 2005, but decided to forgo the Major Leagues and pursue a college education.

HIGH SCHOOL: Bucuren was a member of the nearby Ambridge High School baseball team under head coach Mike Marvis...posted a .525 batting average as a junior and a .508 average as a senior...named the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Player of the Year as a senior...played for coach Mike Kosko as a member of the Diamond Dogs...helped the team to an NABF National Championship...earned the tournament batting title...was also a free safety and wide receiver on the Ambridge high school football team.